SLES 11 SP1 for VMware – Just that easy on Workstation 7

Background
Back in June, several media outlets announced SUSE Linux Enterprise Server from Novell would be the standard platform for future VMware virtual appliances. This is good for VMware customers because a standard platform has been chosen. This is good for Novell, for obvious reasons.

Then VMware announced that with qualifying purchases of VMware products, a free copy of SLES would be included.

Once I downloaded the necessary ISOs, I figured I would start out with VMware Workstation 7.

After selecting New -> Virtual Machine, I was presented with the New VM Wizard, and chose a typical install.

Upon pointing the wizard to the SLES ISO, Workstation recognized the ISO, and decided to configure the VM for SLES.

Workstation has a nice feature that allows for personalization of the guest OS, and here it prompted for my information.

Then I chose all the rest of the defaults, and completed the initial VM setup.

After powering on the machine, the VMware Workstation autoinstallation/personalization feature did all the work for me, and began the installation. With the Core i7 machine I’m using, the installation went pretty quickly.

Upon reboot, it appears I was successful. And I have to say, nice customization of the boot screen by VMware.

As expected, I had to enter my credentials to get into the system. I have to say, I like the sign-in customization here too.

After entering both my username and password, I was presented with a desktop.

Keep in mind, this is a quick, easy, installation, that used all defaults, and VMware Workstation 7 autoinstallation. This installation method won’t be for everyone, but it can be just that easy.

Now I just need to brush off my Linux skills.

Update:After getting a tweet from @eric_gray, I looked a little deeper into the number of authorized SLES 11 installs I mentioned.

Customers will receive SLES with one (1) entitlement for a subscription to patches and updates per qualified VMware vSphere SKU. For example, if a customer buys 100 licenses of a qualified vSphere Enterprise Plus SKU, that customer would receive SLES with one hundred (100) entitlements for subscription to patches and updates.

Is there any limit to the number of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for VMware virtual machines I can run on a qualified vSphere host?

There is no limit. Customers can run an unlimited number of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for VMware virtual machines per qualified vSphere host. Please refer to the terms & conditions for further details.

So, it is a little confusing, but appears an unlimited number of SLES for VMware instances can be run. Sweet.

CentOS does not provide enterprise support. It is not certified by ISVs, Databases, CRMs. RedHat is not up for sale. Novell’s business unit is. It is strategy and a smart option. SLES for VMware is a huge win. RedHat charges way to much for support contract subscriptions and their support is not all that great. Maybe once you FINALLY get someone on the phone yes.

•Customers may run SLES with the accompanying patches and updates subscription entitled by a VMware purchase only in virtual machines running on VMware vSphere 4.0 and 4.1 hosts that have active vSphere SnS with VMware..

•Customers cannot install SLES with the accompanying patches and updates subscription entitled by a VMware purchase 1) directly on physical servers or 2) in virtual machines running on third party hypervisors.

vSphere 5.5 End of General Support

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